MEDIA RELEASE
Wednesday 09 December 2009
COAG plans put Australia at the forefront of change
The Australian Institute of Architects welcomes the Commonwealth Government’s
newly-announced CAPITAL CITIES STRATEGIC PLANNING initiative, which comes as
a
timely reminder as the UN conference in Copenhagen gets underway, that our
primary focus must be the cities we live in!
“Buildings and cities shape our lives, but their construction and operation accounts for almost
half of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions,” said Australian Institute of Architects National
President Melinda Dodson. “Sustainable, low carbon design is critical today and for the future.
Not only does the sustainable design of buildings and cities reduce our burden on the
environment, it also improves our health, quality of life and the vitality of our communities.
“The Institute of Architects has championed change of this kind for many years and we
applaud the many-pronged approach made in the Government’s strategic plans. As confirmed
at this week’s COAG meeting, economic productivity needs to go hand-in-hand with a response
to climate change and the reduction of C02e if we are to build sustainable cities and urban
environments for a population of 35 million in Australia by 2049.”
Ms Dodson said in the lead-up to Copenhagen, the Institute took the initiative to galvanize
international support for change by joining forces with Architecture Canada, the Royal Institute
of British Architects and the Commonwealth Architects Association. The group developed a
call-to-action statement to promote to governments attending the UN conference.
“Our statement is designed to encourage governments, architects and the broader community
to act on the extensive research that shows the significant contribution the built environment
can make to emissions mitigation if comprehensive efforts are pursued,” said Ms Dodson.
“Furthermore it highlights the crucial roles that the built environment can play in reducing the
climate change impact on the environment.”
The call-for-action statement outlines a range of measures including the following:
A call for emissions reduction to less than 2 tonnes per capita by 2050. This will require
reducing emissions by 90% from 1990 levels.
A call for new buildings in developed countries to be designed to be carbon neutral in
energy use by 2020 and a 30 per cent carbon reduction in existing buildings by 2020.
A
revitilisation of existing urban environments, improved efficient use of existing
infrastructure and the securing of urban growth boundaries.
“We believe the Australian Government’s national criteria to deliver better integrated and
longer term - 30 year - infrastructure and land use plans will put Australia at the forefront of
the environmental changes we have proposed here and which are needed to successfully
sustain our cities and urban environments into the future,” said Ms Dodson.
The Institute's call to action comes as the world's largest architectural organisation, the Union
Internationale de Architectes, headed by Australian architect and former National President
Louise Cox, also pushes for change in Copenhagen, presenting a UIA Declaration - Sustainable
by Design - to the forum. The declaration calls for a range of actions to be implemented by
Australian Institute of Architects | Media Contacts
2
Trish Croaker, National Media/PR Advisor
trish.croaker@raia.com.au; 0408 756 163
Margot Paul, National Media/PR Advisor
margot.paul@raia.com.au; 0402 669 463
The Australian Institute of Architects is the peak body for the architectural
profession, representing more than 9800 members across Australia and
overseas. The Institute actively works to improve the quality of our built
environment by promoting quality, responsible and sustainable design. Visit
the Institute for more information - architecture.com.au .
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